"It's such a fast game in this day and age, especially in the ACC conference. It's not the old Big Ten-style football we grew up watching."

Syracuse, N.Y. — Bookends aren't made to be light and the Seven Blocks of Granite certainly weren't named for their speed.

But when left tackle Sean Hickey emerged at Syracuse's Media Day on Saturday, the Orange's offensive-line leader looked practically svelte. Hickey bragged about the weight losses of likely right tackle Ivan Foy and center John Miller.

At a position where gaining mass has historically been the mission and bonding has been done over buffets, head coach Scott Shafer instructed his Syracuse team to slim down this season.

It's part of the Orange's effort to match the speed it faces weekly in the ACC during its second year in the conference.

"It's such a fast game in this day and age, especially in the ACC conference," Shafer said. "It's not the old Big Ten-style football we grew up watching where you needed those big, thick bodies. There's a lot of merit to playing with athletic kids that are a little bit lighter. That's the approach we took."

While Shafer has often claimed that Syracuse will bring its "Northern football" to the South, the Orange was over-matched last season against the swarming speed of the ACC's Southern members Florida State and Clemson.

Shafer has regularly said since taking over that Syracuse needs to upgrades its athleticism now that it's in the ACC. He said one of his priorities for the Class of 2015 is recruiting speed.

"It's been big with the whole team," Shafer said. "I wanted a leaner, faster team and not just with the skill kids."

Nowhere is the new emphasis more obvious than on the offensive line, where Hickey said Foy has dropped more than 20 pounds, one of the biggest makeovers during an offseason full of them.

Hickey, who said NFL teams considered him too light, bulked up from 291 pounds to 303. He said Foy dropped from his listed weight of 313 to around 290.

"Ivan is exciting because he's lost 30 pounds," Hickey said. "I was always considered the light one. Now I'm the heaviest."

Shafer said he didn't believe that the Orange was trading away the potential for a power-running game by electing to use a lighter line.

"I'd be concerned if we lost strength but our numbers have stayed up and gone up," Shafer said. "You want lean body mass, get the fat content as low as you can without losing your strength numbers. We had quite a few strength gains. You worry about it, but the longer the kids are in the program, eating the right way, they're just getting leaner. Leaner and meaner to be quite honest with you."

The approach is one that has grown in popularity across college football during recent years.

Zone blocking has helped increase the emphasis on athletic linemen. Lateral quickness is critical and blockers are encouraged to get off double-teams and reach the second level of the defense.

Proponents of hurry-up offenses like Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly have only increased the importance of athleticism. In his first draft Kelly picked Oklahoma tackle Lane Johnson, a tight end for much of his career, with the No. 4 pick. His Oregon offense is one that offensive coordinator George McDonald said he'd like SU to resemble.

Hickey said the coaching staff has structured practices to encourage conditioning. He said the units will rotate less frequently, giving each one a greater cardiovascular workout. Instead of making corrections after each play, coaches will run through a series of plays and talk to players about adjustments at the end.

"We're trying to wear the defense down," Hickey said. "That's what this offense helps the most. From an offensive line, when that defensive lineman has rushed five times in a row, and he's going the sixth time, he's not getting the jump that he would if he got to go back in the huddle. It's a nice thing because it makes my job easier."